Self-closing stopper for receptacles



April 2, 1929K. A. HAMMERsTl-:IN 1,707,660

'SELF CLOSING s'roPPsR Fon- REGEPTACLES I Filed sept.16, 1927 A, TTOR N15 yg Patented Apr. 2, 19-29.

ARTHUR HAMMERSTEIN, or NEW Yonx, N. Y.

YSLLLIF-CLOSING' STPPER FOR RECEPTACLES.

Application led September 16, 1927. Serial No. 219,834.

The invention relates to receptacles designed to contain fluids and other substances which are expelled-in successive amounts at periodic intervals of use, examples of such receptacles being found in the customary containers for perfumes, sha-ving lotions, creams, tooth washes, powders and pastes, andthe like. The object of the invention is to provide a stopper of simple and novel construclo tion, whereby such receptacles will be automatically sealed and whereby discharge of the contents may be brought about at will in a simple manner. The invention will be lfully described hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an exam le of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the stopper in position upon a receptacle; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan View of the stopper, and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. l

The stopper comprises a fitting arranged to be attached to the exit end of a receptacle 10, which may be of any suitable form and dimensions, and constructed in any conventional manner of suitable material. In its illustrated form the fitting consists of a closure member 11, detachably connected with the receptacle 10, for instance by being provided with .an externally screwthreaded neck 12, arran ed to screw into the internally threaded nec 13 of the receptacle l0; to prevent unintentional escape of the contents of the receptacle 10 a packing ring 14 may be located between the member 11 and the receptacle neck 13. The closure member l1 is provided with an outwardly converging recess 15, preferably of conical form, and in any case communicating with the interior of the receptacle 10Y as shown in Fig. 1. `The closure 11 is further provided exteriorly of the receptacle l0 with a seat-16, preferably of frusto-conical shape, and further includes exit apertures 17 Vat the seat in communication with the recess 15.

The stopper is further provided with an externally screwthreaded boss 18, adapted to removably receive a cap 19 having an interior chamber 20 tted over the seat 16,` as illustrated in Fig. 1; the cap -19 in addition is provided at its outer end with a reduced guidebore 21, which forms an axial continuation 4of the chamber 20 and slidably accommodates a plungerV 22. The latter extends into the chamber 20 and projects outwardly beyond the cap 19 and is provided with an axial exit passage 23, the inner end of which is normally closed by the outer end surface of the seat 16. At its inner end, the plunger 22 carries a sealing member 24, slidably fitted in the chamber 20 in fluid tight engagement with the surface of said chamber, said sealing member being shaped to fit over and in surface engagement with the aforesaid seat 16 so as to normally close the exit apertures 17 as shown in F ig. I. An actuating head 25 is mounted upon the plunger 23 at its outer end, referably so as to be removable, and in the illiistrated example, accordingly is shown in screwthreaded engagement with said plunger; the head 25 which virtually forms a part of the plunger 22 is provided with an axial exit passage 23* forming a continuation of the passage 23. In order to automatically maintain the sealing member 24 in surface engagement with the seat 16, and to automatically return it to this position, a spring 26 is located withinV the chamber 20 between the outer end wall thereof and the sealing member 24, said spring exerting a tension upon said sealing member in a direction toward the seat 16. To facilitate theexpulsion of the contents of the receptacle 10, when this is desired, the cap 19 may include an outer surface 19'shaped or more specifically curved to accommodate the thumb and preferably also the first linger of the hand of the person manipulating the stopper; the head 25 may, if desired, be provided with a cooperating surface 25 for the accommodation of the end of the thumb as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1.

In practice, with the yparts in the normal positions shown in Fig. 1, the receptacle is securely sealed and unintentional discharge of its contents are positively prevented. lVhen it is desired to expel the contenteof said receptacle 10, the plunger 22 is moved outwardly with respect to the cap 19 so u to shift the sealing member 24 in a direction away from the seat 16 to thereby uncover the exit apertures 17 and accordingly establish communication between said apertures 17 and the exit passage 23-23. In this adjustment of the parts, the contents of the receptacle 10 to any desired amount may be expelledV through the aforesaidI passage, lr instance, in successive squirts, by shaking the receptacle to and fro in an inverted poeltion. The provision ofthe surface 19 and if desired, the surface 25 makes it possible to shift the plunger 22 and sealing member 24 as described, by pressure upon the head 25 through the medium of the thumb, while the receptacle is easily and comfortably grasped by the hand in a natural position. As soon as the outward pressureV upon the plunger 22 orvmore specifically upon `the head 25 is released, the spring 26 will inimediately return the sealing member 24 into sealing engagement with the seat 16 so as to again cover the exit apertures 17.

Thevstoppermay be efiiciently utilized in connection with receptacles adapted to contain allsorts of fluids, and particularly perfumes andthe like, and may be developed also in aV form suitable for receptacles designed to contain granular and pulverized solids, pastes and the like. Y

The device may be easily and completely disassembled for cleaning or other purposes, by unscrewing the cap 19 from the boss 18 and vby Vremoving the head 25 from the plunger 23, after whichthe latter` with the .sealing member 24 and the spring 25 may be easilyrremoved from said cap 19; reassembling of the parts is equally simple as will obvious.-` The stopper is extremely simple in construction and operation, and mayl be economically produced and easily attached to the receptacle for which itis designed. The elements of the stopper are .combined in a manner to prevent unintentional separation thereof and so as to coopcrate in anetlicient manner to automatically 1 Imaintain the receptacle normally in a sealed or closed condition. The outwardly divergiIig and preferably conical form of the recess Al5. serves to guide or conduct the contents of the receptacle l0 to the exit opening 17 when :expulsion of said contents from said receptacle is desired. .Y f Various changes in the specific form shown and -described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim Y l. A stopper of the kind described comprising a fitting arranged to be attached to the exit end of a receptacle in communication with the interior thereof, an apertured seat located in a stationary position within said fitting, and a hollow plunger slidably mounted in said fitting in axial registry with said seat and projecting exteriorly of said fitting, lsaid plunger co-opeiating with said seat to close said exit end of the receptacle, and being axially movable away from said seat to uncover the apertures thereof and permit the contents of said receptacle to be expelled therethrough and through said hollow plunger.

V2. A stopper of the kind described comprising a fitting arranged to be attached to the exit end of a receptacle in communication with the interior thereof, an apertured seat located in a stationary position within said fitting, a plunger slidably mounted in said Home() fitting in axial registry with said seat and provided with an axial exit passage, sealing means carried by said plunger adapted to engage saidseat and close the apertures thereof to thereby closeV the exit end of said recep tacle, said plunger being axially movable outwardly in said fitting to uncover said apertures and establish communication between said seat apertures and said axial exit passage to permit the contents of the receptacle to be expelled through said passage, and a spring for maintaining said sealing means in engagementwith said seat and for returning it thereto. i c

A stopper of the kind described comprising a fitting arranged to be attached to the exit end of a receptacle in communication with the interior thereof, a frusto-conical seat Vlocated in a stationary position within said litting and provided with exit apertures oontiguous to its outer end, a plunger slidably mounted in said fitting in axial registry with said seat andhaving an axial exit passage, the inner end ol' which is normally closed by the outer endsurface of said seat, a sealing member carried by said plunger and adapted normally to lit over and in surface engage,- ment with said seat to close. the apertures thereof, said plunger being axially movable outwardly in said. titting to uncover said apeitures and establish communication between said apertures and axialexit passage and thereby permit the contents of the receptacle to be expelled through said passage, and a spring located within said fitting for maintaining said sealing member insurface engagement with said seat and -for returning it thereto. Y

4. A stopper of the kind described, comprising a closure member arranged to the attached to the exit end of a receptacle and provided'with an outwardly converging recess communicating with the interiorfthereof, a frusto-conical seat onsaid closure member, the latter including exit apertures at said seat in communication with said recess at the apex end thereof, a cap removably secured on said closureV member and'provided with an interior chamber litted over said vseat and with a reduced guide bore, at its outer end forming an axial continuation of ysaid chamber, a plunger slidably mounted in said .guide bore and 1projecting exteriorly' of said cap,

said plunger being provided with an axial Isage whereby the contents of saidreceptacle may be expelled through the latter, and a spring within said chamber for yieldingly maintaining said sealing member in surface engagement with said seat and for returning it thereto.

5. A stopper of the kind described comprising a. fitting arranged to be attached to the exit end of a receptacle in communicationA with the interior thereof, an apertured seat located in a stationary position within said fitting, a hollow plunger slidably mounted in said fitting in axial registry with said seat and projecting exteriorly thereof, said plung-A er co-operating with said seat to close said exit end of the receptacle, and being axially movable to uncover the apertures of said seat and permit the contents of said receptacle to be expelled therethrough and through said hollow plunger, and a head on said plunger exteriorly of said fitting for operating said plunger, said fitting having an outer surface curved to accommodate the thumb and permit it to exert an operating pressure on said head whereby the expulsion of said contents is facilitated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR HAMMERSTEIN. 

